The virgin birth is a much-loved story in the Christian tradition, but many theologians dispute the tradition of the virginal conception on both historical and scientific grounds.

A Protestant theologian, husband, and father, Kyle Roberts was growing unsure of his belief in Mary’s virginity. So he set out to investigate the virgin birth from every angle.

A Complicated Pregnancy records his fascinating journey through the evidence and the myth, through history, biblical interpretation, and church politics. His conclusion surprised him, and it will surprise you, too.

Reviewing what we now know about actual synagogues in the land of Israel and their public role in Jewish life and culture, Jordan J. Ryan shows that Gospel narratives placed in synagogues accurately reflect the ancient synagogue setting. He argues for the historical plausibility of the setting of these narratives and suggests that synagogue research must be a starting point for their interpretation. He further argues that Jesus’s efforts at the restoration of Israel were intentionally aimed at the synagogue as an institution of public and political life.